Kiwi families are being warned about using unflued portable gas heaters after an elderly man died when he accidentally inhaled fumes from a heater in his Christchurch home.
Coroner Brigette Windley released her findings on Friday into the death of 90-year-old Christchurch man Albert Wylie, who died in his home in July 2015.
- Couple killed by carbon monoxide poisoning
- Heater recalled by Mitre 10 linked to death of Taumarunui couple
The coroner found the cause of death was "carbon monoxide poisoning due to accidental inhalation of fumes from an LPG heater".
In a report provided to the coroner, two major factors were identified as contributing to the death - a fault in the heater and failure to use within ventilation guidelines. Both were deemed manageable by users. It was recommended that cabinet heaters were only used in larger rooms and not in bedrooms or bathrooms. They should also be serviced regularly.
However, the coroner said the report suggested the challenge with this would be raising public awareness of the safe operating practices.
Tags containing safety information are often attached to LPG cylinders when they are filled at services stations. However, the report noted that this is now less common with many consumers using a swap system, making it more difficult to provide safety information.
The coroner's findings also noted that since Wylie's heater was supplied for sale in 2009, new regulations have been introduced requiring that before they are supplied, they must comply with the gas appliance certification scheme. The heaters must also now be approved by WorkSafe.
coroner Windley endorsed such safety messages and the need to increase public awareness.
"If Mr Wylie's LPG heater had been used in an appropriately sized and ventilated space, it is possible his death may have been avoided, or his outcome may have been improved," she said.
"I note that Mr Wylie's heater was found to have a warning plate advising end-users not to use the heater in a bedroom or similarly confined space and to ensure the room is well ventilated when the heater is in use."
However, considering the new regulations and safety messages, Coroner Windley said she didn't believe there were any further recommendations she could make to "reduce the chances of further deaths occurring in similar circumstances".
"That said, Mr Wylie's death in circumstances where important safety messages were displayed on the heater, but for whatever reason, were not heeded, highlights the need for ongoing publication and reminders of these safety messages, in particular at the start of each winter season," the coroner said.
"Families and caregivers of the elderly and those with cardio-respiratory vulnerabilities can also play an important part in avoiding harm caused by unsafe operation of LPG heaters."
But Master Plumbers chief executive Greg Wallace is calling for New Zealand to follow the lead of other countries.
"Other countries around the world have made it very clear that they don't believe they are safe and I think we have been a bit slow to act on this," he told Newshub.
Some portable heaters have been banned in some countries like Canada and in parts of Australia.
Newshub.
